Convict Criminology for the Future

With the astonishing expansion of criminology courses across the world, I became convinced, at one point, that there were more criminologists than criminals. Thankfully, Convict Criminology provides an appropriate sieve, as its contributions derive from prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and academics who work or conduct research in correctional institutions. Proximity to the world of custody entails the choice of fitting methodologies, namely ethnography and self-ethnography, which distinguishes this criminological school from other 'distant', conventional, lifeless perspectives. Sarcastically, one may suggest that Convict Criminology was bound to see its inception in the US, the country with the highest prisoners' population in the world. This excellent collection, however, is international in nature, offers several analytical angles while addressing national as well as global issues. This book is a breath of fresh air. -Vincenzo Ruggiero, Ph.D., Professor, Middlesex University This thoughtful book assembles the most current research and thinking on the subject of Convict Criminology and moves the needle forward in terms of scholarly research and thinking. The contributions are written by a team of internationally respected and diverse scholars. Convict Criminology for the future will be of interest to researchers, students and activists. -Professor Richard S. Jones, Ph.D., Marquette University Reaffirming the unique scholarly value of direct experience to the wider field of carceral studies, this important collection both expands on and refines what Convict Criminology has come to mean - as an established if still evolving academic subfield with increasingly global reach and as a distinctly collective project with profound social implications. The thematically varied and conceptually rich contributions deepen our understanding of the layered harms of in/justice systems across a range of jurisdictions and offer nuanced detail of the significant obstacles impacted scholars encounter. There could hardly be a more pertinent moment or a more fertile political context in which to pay close attention to this growing network of compelling voices. -Jessica Bird, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor, Criminology, Law & Justice Department, University of Illinois at Chicago